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Former Grovetown and Harlem football star Seth Hill started off his 2012 season with a bang. The 5-11, 200-pound sophomore running back broke loose for 144 yards on just 16 carries as Fort Valley State opened the year with a 31-23 win over Delta State.

I was 4-2 last week, but probably do not deserve credit for all four correct picks. Even though I picked Harlem to win, I had it as a tight game. The Bulldogs crushed Social Circle 35-0. Congratulations to Jimmie Lewis and his team on a tremendous performance. Also, Evans had a great bounce-back win, knocking off Jefferson County, and Lakeside overwhelmed a previously unbeaten Westside 43-7.

Former Lakeside Panther Brian Bratton, of the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes, will miss several weeks because of a hyperextended knee.

Bratton was injured on a spectacular play that helped Montreal top Saskatchewan 28-17. Bratton took a short pass from quarterback Anthony Calvillo and raced toward the goal line. Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Chris McKenzie met him there and the two collided as Bratton leaped for the end zone. He made the touchdown but was injured in the process.

I missed a couple of games last week, but I was also dead-on in a couple. I picked Augusta Christian to beat Fox Creek 45-20. The final was 38-20. I also predicted Thomas Jefferson Academy would win by six points over Augusta Prep, and they did, escaping with a 44-38 victory.

Augusta Christian quarterback Tyler Roberson should be a household name in Columbia County football. After all, how many kids start at the quarterback position for four years? I can answer that – none. That is how many I know of in my lifetime in Columbia County.

Heck, just to start for four years in high school is extremely rare. Starting at quarterback is unheard of. Despite that incredible feat, Roberson has flown under the radar for several reasons.

With many teams in Georgia changing region and classification, it has been a little tougher to pick games this year. This week, with four of our county teams playing schools they have never faced, will be no different. There are, however, some interesting match-ups that really make me look forward to Thursday and Friday.

Columbia County has produced dozens of college football players in recent years. During the next few weeks I’ll update you on as many as possible.

While many are at small schools across the Southeast, there are a handful that have roster spots with some big-time programs. At the University of Georgia and Georgia Southern we have multiple county products to look for this fall.

Here is a look at Columbia County players to pull for this season in Statesboro and Athens.

I started 2012 with a 2-0 week, although the Greenbrier game was more one-sided than I thought it would be (nice job, coach Kevin Hunt). This week Greenbrier has the week off but the other six county teams all take the field, highlighted by Evans playing at Richmond Academy on Thursday Night. The game will be televised live by WJBF Sports with yours truly handling the play-by-play.

For a long time, girls basketball in Columbia County seemed to lag behind other counties in the two-state area. That all began to change during Greenbrier High School’s tremendous run in the mid- 2000s. Led by four-year starter Michelle Swiec at point guard, the ’Pack advanced deep into the Georgia High School Association playoffs, something that was unheard of in Columbia County.

While the Augusta Prep, Evans, Grovetown, Harlem and Lakeside high school football teams do not crank up until next week, we do have a couple of county teams in action this Friday night. That’s right, the 2012 high school football season kicks off Friday for Augusta Christian and Greenbrier.

Once again this season, I will try to accurately predict each game involving Columbia County teams. Last year I was correct 79 percent of the time, going 45-12. Let’s see if we can top that in 2012.